This is a photo taken of the Garden Party in the Deanery Garden following the evensong service in the Cathedral to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday.
Attended by Cllr Bob Mainstone (Town Mayor) and Cllr Christine Mainstone (Mayoress)
Both High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex and both Lord lieutenants in attendance
The Town mayor made the visit to Chichester following his Civic Service at St Swithuns in the morning.
Jonathan Ansley our Outdoor Services Supervisor, sucessfully completed this year’s Southdowns Trekathon rasing money for the Royal Marsden Hospital. Jonathan, seen here in the centre of the photo, together with his best mate James Averell raised £800 on behalf of his grandson Sebastian, who has just finished his last course of chemotherapy. A familar face around the town and mosty spotted wearing his boots, Jonathan told us “The Trek was hard going, particularly the last seven miles which was over the Seven Sisters! In the end, out of 92 people walking, there were only seven ahead of us at the finish! Now that is showing off!”
At the going down of the setting of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them
On Thursday 30 June East Grinstead Town Council will mark the centenary of the Battle of Boars Head (The Day Sussex Died) by lighting a candle to burn for the 5 hours of the battle.
The Town Mayor (Cllr Bob Mainstone) will light a candle at 3.05am (the exact moment the regiment went “over the top” and leave it lit through to 8.00 am when we shall then lay a wreath in remembrance. The candle will be extinguished at 8.05am The Council are organising this with the local branch of the Royal British Legion and they along with the Town Mayor will lay a wreath. The East Grinstead branch of the Royal British Legion are posting an honour guard from 7 am for the last hour of the candle burning, The Town Mayor and Clerk along with representatives of the RBL will also be in attendance from 7am onwards. We feel this will be a fitting and solemn tribute to the men from Sussex who lost their lives on that day 100 years ago.
We will temporarily hold the High St traffic for a 1 minute silence at 8.00 and trust that commuters appreciate and join with us in the solemnity of the moment.
Town Mayor Cllr Bob Mainstone said “This is our version of an everlasting flame, burning for each minute of the battle 100 years ago. It is hard to envisage how devastating that battle was for this county, 12 sets of brothers were killed, local families would have been directly affected or known those who were much more than today as population and transience was much less back then. A solemn day for us as we remember the sacrifice”
The Council is placing a candle at the High St War Memorial at 3.05 am and it will be joined by an honour guard at 7.00. At 8.00 wreaths will be laid and at 8.05 the candle extinguished but they will remain there all day along with a sign to explain the significance.
The Battle of Boards Head, Richebourg, France was a diversionary tactic prior to the Battle of the Somme which started on 1 July 1916. On the first day of the Somme nearly 20,000 were killed.
The Sussex Regiment like many others were “pals” regiments where men from the same villages and towns were placed, therefore heavy losses would be felt keenly in a small geography.
The Sussex Regiment was disbanded in 1966 and today forms part of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (Queen’s and Royal Hampshires).
Cllr Bob Mainstone, Town Mayor, accompanied by the Mayoress, Cllr Christine Mainstone, presented awards to residents and staff at the first Spring Ball of Pathway Healthcare at the Yoghurt Rooms, Busses Farm in East Grinstead.
Pathway Healthcare, has two centres in Sussex, support and care for adults with learning difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviour.
Following the presentations Bob wished every success to Pathway Healthcare and commented, “We support the essential need for the care of adults with complex learning difficulties and we like Pathway’s aims of focusing on abilities rather than disabilities and helping people live fuller lives”.
Pathway Healthcare is shortly to open a new centre in East Grinstead.
Photos show Cllr Bob Mainstone with Pathway Healthcare staff.
The Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone opened the townscape exhibition at the Museum on 27 May.
The exhibition featured the work of local artists from Example. They created displays based on objects from the Museum an idea pioneered by Museum curator Jessica Hadfield. The artists with their work in the exhibition: Hannah Buckley, Harriet Brigdale, Sheri Gee, Sue Dodds, Annie Burrows, Jackie Watkins, Andy Webb and Renate Wilbraham.
Councillors also supporting the opening ceremony: Cllr Julie Mockford, Cllr Norman Webster, Cllr Adam Peacock, Cllr Peter Wyan, Cllr Dick Sweatman, Cllr Norman Mockford and Cllr Christine Mainstone
Cllr Bob Mainstone in his speech explained, “The Town Council view the Museum as a vitally important community asset…… or in other words we love the Museum! We are proud to support it with an annual grant. This latest exhibition by a talented group of local artists is a brilliant idea and is of a very high quality.”
To find out more visit www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk
The East Grinstead Town Council summer events started with a real bang on Sunday 5 June as Dancing Queen (Abba Tribute) gave a great performance and had everyone dancing on the terraces.
Nearly 2000 sunseekers packed the terraces and spilled on to the Mid Sussex playing fields as families picnicked, partied and played with the music as background from 1pm. Step up and Sing started the ball rolling followed by local Legend Bonx Trigwell (billed as Mr Bonx). Jenny Green next took to the stage with her easy listening medley with 60s and more up to date tunes, then headliners Dancing Queen (Paul R Roberts Productions) hit the stage encouraging dancing, singing and swaying along to Abba’s hits from Ring Ring and Waterloo to the Winner Takes it all and Thank you for the Music.
The Crowd had a great time in the sun and many left announcing they would be back for the next free event on 3rd July, the carnival show where Kylie Minogue tribute Rogue Minogue will be the headliner following local bands from Rock Choir, Sackville School and the ever popular Tar Babies. The show starts at 1.30 as the East Grinstead Carnival Parade arrives at East Court.
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IN a regular feature on the Town Council website, we will be remembering, on the anniversary of their deaths, the East Grinstead soldiers who died during WWI, and who are named on the High Street War Memorial.
This month we recall (as recorded on The Roll of Honour website):
Walter BILLINGS
Private L. 6177 2nd Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Division.
Died of wounds on the Somme 26. 6.16. Aged 36. Regular Soldier born in West Hoathly and enlisted in Brighton.
Son of Mr. Billings and Mrs. Mary Isabel Billings of Birch Grove, near West Hoathly.
Buried Maroc British Cemetery F. 149.
Alfred GREENAWAY
Private SD/2692 13th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.
Killed in action on the Rue de Bois 30. 6.16. Aged 24. Son of William George and Emma Greenaway, of 25, Glen View Road, East Grinstead.
Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Hastings.
Buried Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery F. 924
Gordon W. JELF
Lance Corporal 15/1313 15th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
Killed in action near Arras. 4. 6.16.
No record with SDGW.
Buried Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras F.1182
James JENNER
Private SD/4029 13th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 39th Division.
Killed in action on the Rue de Bois 30. 6.16. Aged 19. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W.Jenner of 12, Council Terrace, East Grinstead.
Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Hastings.
Buried St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery F. 631
George KING
Private G/571 ‘C’ Company. 7th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 12th Division.
Killed in action at Houplines 13. 6.16. Born in East Grinstead and enlisted in Bexhill.
First fatal casualty of the 7th Battalion, on the Western Front.
Buried Houplines Communal Cemetery Extension. F. 1140
Cecil LUFF
Private TF/ 3312 1/4th Battalion, The Royal Sussex Regiment. 53rd Division.
Died in military hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. 28. 6.16.
Son of Mr. Luff and Mrs. Elizabeth Luff of 3, Chequers Road, East Grinstead. Born in Plaistow, West Sussex and enlisted in Bognor.
Buried Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
“I would like to pay tribute to our past Mayor, Cllr Dick Sweatman for the excellent service he has given throughout the last council year. He has attended a huge number of events and functions at which he has always given a positive view of the town its organisations. On top of that he has also attended his share of Town Council meetings and Mid Sussex meetings. Dick is a “man of the people” and has had time to chat and get to know everyone he has met no matter what status they hold. At the beginning of the year Dick was very unsure of making speeches, and was resorting to learning his words off by heart. We have all noticed his improved confidence and now he speaks from the heart and often without notes. Dick has broken all records with his charity donations and he deserves huge credit for his determination to raise funds beyond anyone’s expectations. Congratulations Dick we applaud you!”
“Thank you to my fellow councillors for voting me in for this prestigious position of Town Mayor. I have waited patiently for nine years to wear the famous chain of office and I intend to work hard for the town and enjoy every moment doing so. I have a most able Mayoress, Cllr Mrs Mainstone, who was herself Mayor ten years ago and I won’t be short of advice on how to do things properly! May I wish everyone involved with the Town Council a successful year working together to make East Grinstead the great place that it is.”
“Finally, thank you again for electing me as your Town Mayor for 2016 – 2017”
Town Mayor, Cllr Bob Mainstone, attended the opening of the new facilities at Little Brook Equestrian Centre, Newchapel on Thursday 26 May.
The ribbon was cut for the official opening by Dame Judi Dench who is the patron.
The project involved the rebuilding of part of the indoor school. It now provides an area for the children to use before and after their riding session with a kitchen, eating area, TV room and disabled toilet.
Rob Holwell and Brian Richens members of the East Grinstead Lions help to run riding sessions and were in action on the opening day.
Photo shows Lion Rob Holwell and Town Mayor Cllr Bob Mainstone